Putting On The Mind of Christ

Introduction. (Philippians 2:1-8) Note: the phrase in vs. 5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Christians must seek to imitate the attitudes and behavior of Jesus. This is a difficult task! We tend to think like the world. We tend to react like the world. Yet if we aspire to the name “Christian” we must strive to be “Christ-like.” We can never allow ourselved to be content with thinking and acting in ways that Christ would not.
     I fall miserably short of this! I can preach His word and yet then possess attitudes and behaviors that are nothing at all like the way Christ would behave. All of us feel this way at times. Our shortcomings lead us to feel like giving up. But we must always see our lives in Christ as a process rather than an accomplishment. None of us has yet grown to the point the Lord would have us to be, and yet for the child of God who recognizes their weaknesses, repents of them and struggles to overcome them we have a God in heaven who patiently, lovingly and forgivingly bears with us.
     Having the mind of Christ must be thought of as a growth process. We strive to do away with how we think and act that is not “Christ-like” and put on a mind and behavior that is “Christ-like.” Yet to do that we must understand what the mind of Christ is. This evening I’d like for us to meditate for a few moments upon what the Bible demonstrates about the mind of Christ.

I. It Was Not “Carnal” (Romans 8:5-9) The word “carnal” refers to that which pertains to the flesh. The flesh is not always sinful, but it is always temporary. Jesus was...

  1. Interested in spiritual matters (Luke 2:49; 4:16).

II. It Was Not Interested In Retribution (1 Peter 2:21-24).

  1. Nor Self defense (Matthew 27:11-14). Sometimes we have to be more interested in the “big picture” than in petty efforts to defend ourselves.

III. It Was Patient.

  1. Towards bad attitudes among the disciples (Luke 9:46-48; 22:24-30).
  2. Towards misunderstood teaching (Luke 17:20,21; Acts 1:6-8).

IV. It Is Considerate (Matthew 19:13-15).

  1. “The kindness of God...through Jesus Christ.” (Titus 3:3-7).

V. It Is Compassionate (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32).

  1. “Jesus wept.” (John 11:32-36).
  2. One who can sympathize (Hebrews 4:14-16).
  3. “Father forgive them.” (Luke 23:34).

Conclusion. May it be as Paul says, “Let this mind be in you.” (Philippians 2:5).